Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings,

Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun split clouds and done a hundred things
you have not dreamed of…

Wheeled and soared and swung
high in the sunlit silence

Hov’ring there

I’ve chased the shouting wind along,
and flung my eager craft through footless falls of air

Up, Up, the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace,
where never lark nor eagle flew;

And, while with silent, lifting mind,
I’ve trod the untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand,
And touched the face of God …

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings,

Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of…

Wheeled and soared and swung high
in the sunlit silence

Hov’ring there

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless falls of air

Up, Up, the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace,
where never lark nor eagle flew;

And, while with silent, lifting mind,
I’ve trod the untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand,
And touched the face of God …

Random Ramjet Ramblings

Various thoughts and musings that tumble from my brain onto Ye Olde Interwebbes.
Last 4 blog posts:
50 Years

50 Years

The Artemis I mission occurred 50 years after Apollo 17. What will it take to not have this happen again?

Becoming Santa

Becoming Santa

Santa Claus. Father Christmas. Kris Kringle. St. Nicholas. Papa Noel. Me.

13 Minutes – a podcast review

13 Minutes – a podcast review

“13 Minutes to the Moon” – an excellent BBC podcast focusing on the behind-the-scenes heroes of Apollo 11 and Apollo 13.

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Vacation Photos

Our Family

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Texas Football

Lake Travis

-THE TRENCH-
FLIGHT DYNAMICS OFFICER
MISSION CONTROL
BLOG

-THE TRENCH-

The space exploration advocacy website of Roger Balettie, former Flight Dynamics Officer in NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission Control Center.

Select a menu tab to the left for detailed links or one of the main sections below:

FLIGHT DYNAMICS OFFICER

The Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO, pronounced “fido”) is a Flight Controller in the Mission Control Center responsible for the overall trajectory, or flight path, of the Space Shuttle and all related payloads or other space-bound vehicles associated with the Shuttle.

Read about the:

MISSION CONTROL

"Houston… Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Since 1965, the Mission Control Center (MCC) has been the nerve center for America’s manned space program.

-THE TRENCH- blog

Space- and NASA-based blog entries.

Last 3 blog posts:
50 Years

50 Years

The Artemis I mission occurred 50 years after Apollo 17. What will it take to not have this happen again?

13 Minutes – a podcast review

13 Minutes – a podcast review

“13 Minutes to the Moon” – an excellent BBC podcast focusing on the behind-the-scenes heroes of Apollo 11 and Apollo 13.

Countdown

Countdown

It’s been 40 years since the launch of STS-1, and the excitement of that day never faded.